The other is rather more chilly and somewhat lacking in the 'crystal blue' department.

But that didn't stop two 19th-century Hawaiian princes taking to the North Sea off the coast of Bridlington, East Yorkshire, in what is believed to be the first instance of surfing in Britain.

A long-lost letter, published for the first time, reveals the two young royals and their English guardian went surfing at the resort in September 1890.

The document, possibly the earliest report of the sport in Britain, was uncovered after research into Victorian surfers.

Pictures of the trio and details of their escapade - which stunned locals - have gone on display at Europe’s only dedicated surfing museum, in Braunton, North Devon.

Museum founder Peter Robinson has now called for a statue of the princes to thank them for bringing surfing to Britain.

He said: 'This is the most wonderful discovery and a massive revelation in terms of British surfing heritage.

'The fact that not only do we now know that Hawaiian royalty surfed while being educated in England in the late 1800s, but also that they chose a relatively obscure surfing destination like Bridlington on the east coast to paddle out and catch a few slides is just fantastic.

'This is the earliest proven instance of surfing in Britain so far - previously we had thought it was the 1920s in England and the Channel Islands - but this blows our history right out of the water.

'The Victorian locals must have been incredulous at the sight of these Hawaiian Princes paddling out, and riding back into shore most likely standing on large wooden planks - their dark skin and hair glistening in the North Sea waters.

'I only wish I could have been there to see it.'

Blown out of the water: This picture taken in 1890 shows how Bridlington beach may have looked when the princes amazed holidaymakers with their surfing skills